The proposed bill would introduce a special audit requirement for the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) to assess the financial expenditures related to programs and services for individuals experiencing homelessness in Arizona. This audit would encompass various expenditures, including those by the state, municipalities and counties with higher-than-average homeless populations, federal funds allocated for homeless programs, and costs incurred by law enforcement agencies addressing homelessness. Additionally, all state and local government entities would be mandated to cooperate with the audit by providing access to necessary financial records at no cost.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that the OAG must submit the audit report by December 31, 2026, to key state officials, including the Governor and legislative leaders. It also appropriates $1,250,000 from the Housing Trust Fund for the audit's execution and exempts this appropriation from lapsing. The legislation is set to be repealed after June 30, 2027, ensuring that the audit's provisions are temporary and focused on immediate accountability in homelessness-related expenditures.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 41-2405